The three minutes that could have saved Kevin Walters

The Courier-Mail’s Peter Badel says Kevin Walters became a prisoner from a lack of leadership at the Broncos and revealed the club legend had been blindsided by the dismissal.

Peter Badel says Kevin Walters was blindsided by the decision. Picture: Liam Kidston

Peter Badel says Kevin Walters had become a prisoner of the lack of leadership at the Brisbane Broncos and that three minutes could have saved him from being dismissed.

Speaking on Nova 106.9 this morning after he broke the news on Thursday night, The Courier-Mail’s chief rugby league writer said he had been shocked by the development.

Badel pointed out that the tumultuous grand final 12 months ago could have saved Walters if only Brisbane had clinched the premiership.

The Broncos had bolted to a stunning 16-point lead over titleholders Penrith with less than 30 minutes to play – but the Panthers came back to seal a three-peat with just three minutes to spare.

“He was three minutes away from breaking a 17-year drought ... it was quite remarkable,” Badel said.

“I think you can’t just blame Kevin (for) this one.

“I think the departure of Ben Ikin as football boss has now truly been felt and I think there is a lack of leadership at the club, and I am not only talking about the players, I’m talking about the whole front office ... they don’t have a strong head of football since Ikin’s departure.

“I think Kevin Walters was a casualty of that – he was a prisoner of the lack of leadership in the football department.”

It comes after The Courier Mail revealed Walters was terminated on Thursday night following a wide-ranging review in the wake of Brisbane’s shock free fall to finish 12th this season.

The Broncos are set to address media in wake of Kevin Walters’ dismissal. Picture: Getty

However, according to Badel, Walters, whom he had just seen several hours prior to the news, was also blindsided by the sacking.

“I was quite stunned because five or six hours earlier yesterday I spoke to Kevin Walters myself, we were planning to do an interview for the weekend about turning the Broncos around, not him being sacked,” Badel said.

“I personally believe the club-wide review triggered the departure of Kevin, I think ... from what I gleaned, the review wasn’t favourable to Kevvie and that was the ultimate determinant.”

Badel said the review was a holistic review and undertaken by former New Zealand Rugby Union executive Michael Collins, where all 30 full-time players were interviewed alongside Walters and assistant coaches.

Badel said there must have been some level of dissatisfaction among the Broncos for them to pull the trigger on his contract with two seasons left.

Host David “Luttsy” Lutterall said he had been in contact with Walters on Friday morning and he seemed to be in good spirits.

“He has texted me this morning and he seems at least perceptibly upbeat, saying ‘onwards and upwards’, he’s looking forward to exciting new things, he said ‘I’m just getting started’,” he said.

The Broncos were set to address media on Friday morning to explain the dismissal.